By: Richard L. Smith
Utility officials are working to determine the cause of a power outage that left a section of East Orange without electricity late Wednesday night.
As of 1:30 p.m., more than 400 customers remain without power, and restoration efforts are ongoing.
The outage began shortly before 10:30 p.m. when firefighters responded to a manhole fire near the intersection of 19th Street and Park Avenue.
PSE&G crews were dispatched to assess and repair the damage to the underground electrical infrastructure in the area.
PSE&G officials have confirmed that they are aware of the issue and are actively working on repairs.
The cause of the manhole fire and subsequent power disruption remains under investigation.
Currently, approximately 400 customers are still without power, though officials have managed to limit the impact by isolating the damaged areas.
As repair efforts continue, some additional customers may experience short-term outages as power is restored in stages. The outages could last into late Thursday evening and possibly extend into early Friday morning.
PSE&G has emphasized that repairing underground electric equipment can take longer than fixing above-ground equipment on utility poles.
They advise residents experiencing extended outages to stay in contact with local emergency operations for assistance and updates.